Chocolate Fix

August 19, 2013

Lately I’ve been on a chocolate kick. But I am trying to eat it smartly and sparingly, at least. So I’ve been getting my fix from Chunky Chocolate Date and Nut bars and Chocolate Chia Seed pudding. Both are sweet and deeply chocolatey, but have enough fiber and protein to make them worth eating. Recipes below.

Chunky Chocolate Date & Nut Bars

20 Medjool Dates, pits removed

3 tablespoons of cocoa powder

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 cup raw almonds

1/2 cup raw cashews

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1. Throw the dates, cocoa powder, vanilla and salt into your food processor and pulse on high until the mixture forms into a single ball. Remove cocoa date dough ball from processor and put in a mixing bowl. It will be sticky.

2. Now add the nuts and chocolate chips to the food processor and pulse until the mixture is somewhat powdery, but mostly chunky, then add to the cocoa date dough in the mixing bowl. See image above for an idea about how everything should look.

3. With your hands mix the nut mixture into the cocoa date dough until all the nuts are incorporated. The dough should not be too sticky any longer.

4. Set the mixture on a large piece of wax paper and shape it into a flat rectangle, approximately 5.5″ by 14″. The rectangle should be approximately 1/2″ thick.

5. Cover with wax paper and move to the refrigerator for 1 hour, then cut evenly into bars. Makes approximately 14 bars.

Chocolate Chia Pudding

1/4 cup chia seeds

3/4 cup water

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

1.5 tablespoons maple syrup

splash of vanilla

pinch of salt

1. In a small bowl mix together all ingredients until well incorporated.

2. Cover and put in refrigerator for at least 2 hours. The pudding will thicken as the chia seeds absorb the water.

As you can see, the chia seeds will make this a tapioca-style pudding, which is not for everyone. I dig this pudding. My husband does not.